Harlingen, TX Road Trips
Harlingen, TX serves as a quiet starting point in the Great Plains, connecting drivers to 4 outbound routes across the area. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 441 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Harlingen, TX head north, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
9
Longest Drive
755.7 mi
Amarillo, TX
Quickest Drive
5h 49m
Austin, TX
Plan Around Harlingen, TX
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Harlingen, TX is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Harlingen, TX
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Harlingen, TX
Driving from Harlingen, TX
Expect an average of 441 miles and about 8h 23m behind the wheel when leaving Harlingen, TX. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 756 miles (13h 35m), while the shortest is just 306 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Harlingen, TX include Amarillo, TX (755.7 mi, 13h 35m), Killeen, TX (375.3 mi, 7h 14m), Houston, TX (329.4 mi, 6h 36m), and Montopolis, TX (305.5 mi, 6h 6m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in TX currently averages around $3.78 per gallon. For the typical 441-mile trip from Harlingen, TX, budget about $66 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes mostly head north. Summer trips benefit from long daylight hours, while winter departures should start early to maximize visibility. These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 4 mapped routes leaving Harlingen, TX and 5 routes heading into Harlingen, TX, covering 9 total connections. Distances range from 306 to 756 miles.
The longest mapped route from Harlingen, TX covers 756 miles and takes approximately 13h 35m. Shorter options start at just 306 miles.
The average route from Harlingen, TX runs about 441 miles with a drive time of roughly 8h 23m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.78/gallon for regular), the average 441-mile trip from Harlingen, TX costs roughly $66 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Harlingen, TX include Amarillo, TX, Killeen, TX, Houston, TX and Montopolis, TX. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Harlingen, TX by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
71,669
Median Income
$55,891
Median Home Value
$125,700
Median Age
33.2
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Harlingen, TX at a Glance
Founded
1904
Elevation
39 ft
Area
40 mi²
Notable People from Harlingen, TX
A sampling of people born in Harlingen, TX.
Bobby Morrow
1935–2020
American sprinter (1935–2020)
Nick Stahl
1979
American actor
Filemon Vela
1963
American politician (born 1963)
Beth Nielsen Chapman
1958
American singer-songwriter
Tom Barker
1955
American basketball player
Rosemary Bryant Mariner
1953–2019
US Navy officer
Ed Fagan
1952
American lawyer
Randy Williams
1975
American baseball player
Dylan Gandy
1982
player of American football
City data from Wikidata (Q868869), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Harlingen, TX
Harlingen is a city in Texas.
Harlingen was envisioned by a man named Lon Hill in 1904 as a shipping and industrial center along the Rio Grande and named after the city of the same name in the Netherlands. Since then, it has really bloomed and grown population-wise, and has a few tourist attractions, but not a lot.
Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum, 2425 Boxwood St. Here find dioramas and oddities that characterize the area culturally and historically. Tel: +1 956-216-4900. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM. Iwo Jima Memorial & Museum, 320 Iwo Jima Blvd, in the Marine Military Academy. Relates the vital mission the Marines played at Iwo Jima and in the Pacific Theater. Tel: +1 956-421-9234. M-Sa 10AM-4PM.
Hugh Ramsey Nature Park, 1000 TX-499 Loop. Part of the World Birding Center, with trails and observation blinds. Tel: +1 956-216-5951. Daily 6AM-10PM. Harlingen Performing Arts Theater, 3217 Wilson Rd. Carries multiple entertainers and acts. Tel: +1 956-427-3571.
1 Colletti's, 202 S 1st St, ☏ +1 956-423-3140. (updated Feb 2016) 2 Don Gollito Restaurant, 417 W Van Buren Ave, ☏ +1 956-659-0717. W-Su 7:30AM-3PM.
1 Courtyard Harlingen, 1725 W Fillmore Avenue at Expressway 83, ☏ +1 956-412-7800. (updated Feb 2016)
1 Valley International Airport (HRL IATA), 3002 Heritage Way (At northeastern part of town via Tyler Ave & N Ed Carey Dr (Loop 499) from downtown). Flights from within the U.S. with the following:. (updated Jun 2019) American Eagle/American Airlines to Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago O'Hare Southwest to Austin, Houston Hobby, Dallas love Field Sun Country Seasonally to/from Cancun and Minneapolis United Airlines/United Express to Houston, Delta Seasonally to/from Minneapolis-St Paul For travelers not renting a car click here for a list of taxi and shuttle services to South Padre Island and locally in town. The Valley Metro #41 provides local public transportation into town from the airport. The next nearest commercial airport for Aeromexico, Volaris, Delta (to Austin), and Allegiant is in McAllen, 45 min west on I-2/US 83. Both United & American/American Eagle serve both Valley International Airport and McAllen from their respective hubs in Houston and Dallas-Ft Worth.
Travel tips adapted from Harlingen (Texas) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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